Month: January 2015

Before starting your own consulting business I advise you establish yourself as a knowledgeable, trusted, reputable professional in your field. It goes without saying that consumers are more informed than ever, and as such, potential clients should understand the value you may provide.

Before starting your own consulting business I advise you establish yourself as a knowledgeable, trusted, reputable professional in your field. It goes without saying that consumers are more informed than ever, and as such, potential clients should understand the value you may provide. Here are some tips: Continue reading “Three Tips to Start a Consulting Business, part 1”→

This article (http://slidingsidewaysbooks.com/2015/01/14/5-reasons-to-self-publish/) touches on some great points that many will find useful. Technology has enabled us to accomplish things that a few years ago were labor and/or capital ($) intensive. In fact, we published our own book “An Unexpected Surprise” after taking into account some of the reasons listed on this article.

In this insanely competitive publishing market, there are clearly a lot of benefits to signing with an agent and being backed by a publisher. Marketing budgets, the guidance of an editor, the expertise of an agent… invaluable resources that can help achieve success beyond what self-published authors typically can on our own. I’m the last person to insist that you don’t need the industry, because the industry is powerful for a reason. It makes successes.

However, there are a lot of stories we don’t hear, the flip side of success. Out of the thousands of authors signed to agents each year, not all of their books get sold. The larger publishers often assign unpaid, unqualified interns to screen manuscripts—I’ve heard this from numerous sources inside the industry. If those authors whose books are published don’t sell quite enough copies as measured by a formula for maximum profit, their contracts can…

“More than 80 percent of the 300 small business owners surveyed in the recent 4th Annual Staples National Small Business Survey said that they don’t keep track of their business goals, and 77 percent have yet to achieve their vision for their company.” –Peter Vanden Bos, Inc.com

As we bring in the New Year it is important to take a step back, look at the big picture, and assess the direction your business is taking. Take a moment to celebrate your previous year’s accomplishments, both big and small. Often times we get trapped with tunnel vision and overlook just the amount of success we’ve attained. Whether it was starting your first social media campaign, launching a new product, hiring an employee, earning your first order, or taking active steps towards beginning your new business or venture. Doubt ends more careers than failure ever does.